The End Is Drear

I hear a lot of talk about revival. I know many pray for revival and that is definitely a good thing. Many claim a great revival is happening worldwide and while I hope that is true I am a bit incredulous considering what the Bible says and infers about the last days.

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? KJV

Jesus was speaking of His return and this does not bode well for revivals or even the Church corporate. It does not look like dominion theology pans out or any other theology for that matter. It looks like faith will be a rare thing and even at a near extinction level event. Seeing this passage speaks to a post-Tribulation event it makes sense since the Church has been Raptured. The 144,000 will be hard at it and many will be won by their ministry. Yet, when we are looking at seven billion people currently on earth the numbers will still be a small ratio.

Yet, what about Pre-Tribulation days? Can we expect massive revivals?

Matt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. KJV

When you say the word iniquity most people think of general sins or some particularly grave sin and both are right, but the word also speaks to the idea of being against the law or transgression of it. You could say anything illegal or contrary to God's laws.

Most Christians do not set out to sin when they are first saved. They become sin hunters and try to seek out everything that might be wrong in their life. That is great! Not a bad idea at all, but sometimes they do go too far and listen to people who teach them the traditions of men and get all wrapped up in do this and do that from the minds of men and not necessarily of God.

After an array of failures and sins they get tired and instead of just dumping the traditions of men they dump everything and consider all things lawful for they are under grace. They lose their discernment in the thrill of finding liberty and end up on the other extreme justifying things that appeal to the flesh without considering that they may cause others to stumble and be condemned by the things they allow. They may even use love to manipulate another believer or get others to do things that they have not faith to do making them sin and ultimately stumble. They push the ideas under the banner of grace. True love and grace would forgo liberty for the love of their neighbor.

Gal 5:13-14

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. KJV

Some give up their beliefs or convictions because they are tired of being picked on by the unbelievers and the believers who tell them to lighten up and dump legalism. They just can't take the persecution though it be not unto blood. It is just inconvenient or frustrating. Once they are on that path they are not far from choosing the path of least resistance. They find their love running cold because to be close to the Lord means getting what He and the faithful get; persecution. We are to resist the devil and stand against evil and when we run from the heat of the battle we find cold love in our desertion.

The unnamed prophet listened to an older peer that seemed spiritual instead of obeying God and ended up dead instead of being in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame. False brethren or erring brethren can be as dangerous or more so than outright enemies. You trust those who profess Christianity and appear spiritual and let your guard down whereas with a known enemy the shields would go up, phasers armed and torpedoes loaded. The enemy knows that and will send such people your way that appear as an angels of light to defeat you.

2 Tim 3:12-13

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. KJV

If we can see the fact that evil men are getting worse and worse why do we think we shall not see persecution? In the early days of the Church revival and church growth came by the shedding of the blood of the saints not by major concerts, coffee shops and whatever might be equal to all our media toys.